Latest news with #Romsey
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Romsey Town Mayor celebrates 50 years since election
A former local councillor and head teacher has celebrated 50 years since being elected Romsey Town Mayor. David Johnson was joined by family, friends, and a large number of councillors and town mayors, both past and present, at a drinks reception in the council chamber of Romsey Town Hall. The evening was a celebration of David's half-century of service and the liberal values he represents. David gave a keynote speech about his personal journey and the rise of liberal politics in Romsey. David Johnson marks 50 years since first elected Romsey Town Mayor (Image: Geoff Cooper) His political career began in the early 1960s when he and his brother started Liberal Party activity in the town. Geoff Cooper, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Romsey and Southampton North, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate a great man and a wonderful gentleman, who has given so much to our town over the decades." David was also a head teacher and a member of Romsey Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- BBC News
Historic roses flower early 'due to climate change', says gardener
"Every rose here oozes character," says senior gardener Michael Harvey as he guides me around the garden. The sight and smell of hundreds of roses in bloom at the National Trust's Mottisfont Abbey near Romsey is spectacular. The 1.5-acre (0.6 hectare) walled garden is home to the National Collection of Historic Roses. Unlike modern, repeat flowering roses, most of the plants at Mottisfont flower just once a season. This year the roses are reaching their peak about two weeks early. Mr Harvey says an exceptionally warm and dry March and April has had a big impact: "It has really pushed a lot of the plants to flower a lot sooner. "Because of climate change rose season is becoming earlier and earlier." The team are working hard to support the plants and Mr Harvey says that mulching - applying a thick layer of organic matter on top of the soil - is a key technique. Every season they spread 120-tonnes on the garden."Two inches (5cm) of mulch creates a lovely barrier between the soil and the sun. It adds nutrients to the soil and and helps with water retention," says Mr is also going into irrigation and rain-water harvesting. Some roses which are showing signs of stress, such as browning leaves, will be moved to less sunny spots in the garden. He tells me it's about "putting the right rose in the right place".Milder, wetter winters also pose problems with some pests not being killed in cold spells and a shorter dormancy period for the roses. The garden at Mottisfont was created in the 1970s by horticulturalist Graham Stuart Thomas who collected roses from around the world. Every year about 84,000 visitors come to see it during the flowering Harvey says it is an irreplaceable collection: "Some of the rarest roses in the UK and internationally are grown here and the only place you will see some of the roses is in this garden."So it is really important we look after them to the best of our abilities to keep these rose varieties going. "If these rose varieties go extinct you will never be able to get them back." The team is sharing knowledge with fellow rose gardeners in Ethiopia. In September 2024 they visited the country as part of the International National Trust's Withstanding Change project."It's a conversation between them and us about climate change and sharing our stories," Mr Harvey says. Despite the challenges, Mr Harvey is delighted with the message is going out that the next few weeks are the time to catch the garden at its best, with evening openings and newly trained rose volunteers on hand to answer Harvey tells me proudly: "It is like a mini Chelsea Flower Show here. "The special thing about historic roses is they have all got character, they all want to say something. It is beautiful." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Sighing at a colleague in frustration is discrimination, tribunal rules
Sighing in frustration at a colleague at work is discrimination, an employment tribunal has ruled. The ruling came in the case of a software engineer with ADHD who successfully sued a tech company after complaining about his manager's 'sighing and exaggerated exhales'. Robert Watson is now in line for compensation from Roke Manor Research, the inventors of the Hawk-Eye ball tracking system, after the firm was found guilty of unlawful discrimination. The hearing in Southampton, Hants, was told that Mr Watson started working for the company, based in nearby Romsey, as a software engineer in August 2020. 'Easily distracted' However, as a result of his ADHD, which was not diagnosed until November 2022, the tribunal heard that Mr Watson's time keeping was 'poor' and that he was 'easily distracted'. Mr Watson began taking medication for the condition after his diagnosis and took four days off sick. When he returned to work, the technical lead of one of the projects he was working on, referred to only as DT, told him that 'something's got to change' because he had to do 'several days' worth of additional work' partly because of Mr Watson's absence. The tribunal said that it was 'not appropriate' for the manager to 'take out his frustration' on Mr Watson – who was reduced to tears after the encounter. Over the following weeks, DT continued to criticise him. The tribunal heard: '[Mr Watson] alleges that DT questioned [his] hours of work and his patterns of work and the time he spent at his project desk and that he expressed nonverbal frustration such as sighing and exaggerated exhales. 'He said that over the next few weeks, DT made comments which made him feel anxious.' 'Net detriment' At a meeting in December between the two, DT – who told the tribunal he was struggling to make adjustments for Mr Watson in a 'high pressure' environment – told him he was becoming a 'net detriment' and made a joke about 'putting your ADHD aside for a moment'. Mr Watson went off sick because of work-related stress from February 2023 and never returned. He filed his claim for disability discrimination in May 2023, and was sacked in January 2024. DT's behaviour towards him was found to be discriminatory by the tribunal. Employment Judge Catherine Rayner said: 'I conclude the reason for the expressions of frustration arose from things which themselves arose from [Mr Watson]'s disability, such as his time keeping and working patterns and the fact that he was spending time away from his project desk.' She added: 'Had [Roke Manor Research] taken steps to identify adjustments required for [Mr Watson] at an earlier stage and provided both him and the project lead with necessary support it is entirely possible that DT would not have himself suffered with such work pressure and it is possible therefore that this discrimination would have been avoided.' Other claims Mr Watson made relating to additional discrimination and a claim of unfair dismissal were not upheld. His compensation will be decided at a later date.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- BBC News
Elderly woman dies three weeks after Romsey car crash
An elderly woman has died in hospital following a collision in which two other people were also crash, involving a Ford Fiesta and Audi A3, happened in Luzborough Lane, Romsey, on Sunday 18 April, at about 21:10 BST.A woman in her 80s from North Baddesley, who was a passenger in the Fiesta, was seriously injured. Police said on Tuesday that she died in hospital on 11 other occupants of the same car continue to be treated for injuries, according to Hampshire Constabulary. Police said specialist officers were supporting the woman's force is appealing for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to get in touch.A spokesperson said: "It is believed there was another vehicle directly behind the Fiesta when the collision occurred and we are particularly keen to speak to the occupants as they may be key witnesses." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Refund delays for solar power firm customers
A solar power firm has warned customers of delays to refunds after it was delisted from a council-endorsed energy paid thousands of pounds upfront to Fusion8 Ltd to install solar panels and batteries under Solar Together, a commercial scheme promoted by several local clients have tried to reclaim deposits of up to £2,000 after the firm lost a vital a statement, Fusion8 said it had been processing refunds, although it told customers on 1 May the process was on hold. Simon Haythornthwaite, from Romsey, Hampshire, paid a £1,700 deposit to Fusion8 and had a home visit from the firm in he said he heard nothing further until March, when the company increased its £7,083 quote by a further £ April, he was informed by Solar Together operator iChoosr that Fusion8 would no longer be able to carry out the Haythornthwaite said Fusion8 did not respond to his request on 23 April for a 1 May, Fusion8 sent an email which said: "We are currently experiencing issues that is preventing us from processing refund requests."Until a resolution is found, we are unfortunately not able to respond to emails regarding refunds."Mr Haythornthwaite told the BBC: "When you get an email saying they are not responding to emails, it doesn't give you a warm, fuzzy feeling."I imagine we are going to have trouble getting this deposit back."Having spoken to a local installer, I wish I hadn't done this at all. The price was not that different." Solar Together is a solar panel and battery storage installation scheme, operated by iChoosr and offered through local website says it delivers better prices for renewable energy through group Solar Together customer interviewed by the BBC said he heard nothing from the company for two months after an initial client from Hythe, Hampshire, who prefers not to be named, said he was later told installers would arrive within a week, but no-one trying to reclaim a £2,000 deposit, he was sent the same email as Mr Haythornthwaite on 1 than a dozen Fusion8 customers in Berkshire and Hampshire complained about the firm in Trustpilot reviews in April. There was one positive complaints mentioned "no communication", "slow progress" and customers being left with scaffolding around their homes when work stalled. In a statement, Fusion8 said it was "no longer performing installations as part of the Solar Together scheme". It added: "Fusion8 has been processing refunds and is working hard to communicate with customers who have paid a deposit."Those customers who are deciding to continue their installation with Fusion8 are having their installations planned and prepared." In an internal email seen by the BBC, Hampshire County Council chief executive Carolyn Williamson said Fusion8 was no longer part of Solar Together Hampshire "due to the loss of their Customer Code accreditation, which is a MCS [certification scheme] requirement".She said 94 Fusion8 clients in the county were a statement, the council said customers should contact iChoosr to arrange a full has not yet responded to a BBC request for comment. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
